Synopsis by enewstime: The Awami League has strongly condemned a six-month prison sentence handed down to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh on contempt of court charges.
The case, based on a leaked audio clip, allegedly showed Hasina interfering with the judiciary. The party labeled the verdict as unconstitutional, politically motivated, and a violation of legal norms, accusing an “illegitimate interim regime” led by Yunus of orchestrating the judgment to suppress dissent.
Alongside Hasina, a Chhatra League leader was also sentenced. The Awami League decried the ruling as “judicial terrorism” and called for national and international resistance against what it views as an attempt to destabilize Bangladesh’s democratic structure.
Dhaka (Bangladesh), July 3, 2025: The Awami League has strongly denounced the six-month prison sentence handed down to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh, calling the verdict “illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated.”
In an official statement, the ruling party condemned the verdict as part of a “false and fabricated case,” asserting that the sentence, issued without a fair hearing, represents a blatant abuse of judicial authority. The party rejected the ruling outright, describing it as an assault on the nation’s legal principles and democratic foundations.
The ICT announced the sentence on Wednesday, citing contempt of court charges based on a leaked audio clip circulated on social media. The audio allegedly featured Sheikh Hasina making remarks that were interpreted as interference in the judicial process and issuing threats to the tribunal. Alongside Hasina, Shakil Akanda Bulbul—a leader from the Chhatra League, the Awami League’s student wing—was also sentenced to two months’ imprisonment in the same case.
The Awami League has slammed the tribunal’s actions, claiming it was formed by what they describe as an “illegitimate and extremist interim regime.” According to the party, the tribunal expedited the case and issued a verdict within weeks without allowing Hasina the chance to present her defense.
“The tribunal refused to hear any legal representation for Sheikh Hasina and denied her the basic right to respond to the accusations,” the statement said. “In an alarming departure from judicial norms, the court ordered her to appear by May 25 despite her being abroad, and now has delivered a unilateral six-month sentence without a formal hearing.”
The party argued that under Bangladesh’s criminal justice system, no one can be convicted unless guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt—a principle they claim was blatantly ignored in this case. It further contended that the specific law cited by the tribunal does not apply to Sheikh Hasina’s alleged actions.
Labeling the verdict a manifestation of “judicial terrorism,” the Awami League accused the interim leadership—allegedly under the influence of a figure named Yunus—of subverting justice and using state institutions for political retribution. The party equated the situation to mob violence and claimed the judiciary has been weaponized against the country’s legitimate leadership.
“The tribunal has become a tool for vengeance under the directives of the so-called militant interim regime. This latest judgment is not only baseless but reflects a broader campaign of intimidation and lawlessness,” the statement read.
The party warned that the actions of this “extremist and unlawful regime” are pushing the country toward chaos and called on citizens to resist what it views as a dismantling of Bangladesh’s democratic order.
“We urge the people of Bangladesh and the international community to raise their voices against this miscarriage of justice,” the statement concluded. “With the strength of public unity, we will overcome this tyranny and defeat the forces seeking to destroy our democracy.”
Awami League supporters in Dhaka, already under alleged attacks of Yunus-led Government’s administration, summarized the prevailing situation in Bangladesh after the verdict: The sentencing of Sheikh Hasina has intensified political tensions in Bangladesh, with the Awami League framing the judgment as a dangerous precedent of judicial overreach and political manipulation. By portraying the case as a deliberate attempt to undermine democratic leadership, the party has rallied public and international support to oppose the ruling. (Edited)